NJ Artist Carolyn Palmer Commissioned by St. Patrick’s Cathedral

This month, Saddle River-based artist Carolyn Palmer shared the completion of four life-sized bronze sculptures to be featured in the entrance vestibules of St. Patrick’s Cathedral. These include the last four popes to visit St. Patrick’s in New York City—Pope Francis, Pope Benedict, Pope John Paul and Pope Paul VI. These four newly-installed sculptures were placed on marble shelves in the Cathedral’s entrance. It took Palmer, who worked ever so diligently, nearly two years to complete her four pieces which were in fact made right in her home studio, before later being cast in bronze at Polich Tallix, a foundry located in Walden, NY.

Cardinal Tobin visits Carolyn Palmer’s Saddle River studio.

An internationally-recognized sculptor, Carolyn Palmer spent a portion of her collegiate years traveling through Europe. It was there that she found a passion for classical sculptures, studying the great pieces in city squares and galleries, including sculptures such as The Louvre in Paris and the Prado in Madrid. Today, the picturesque countryside views of Palmer’s home studio right here in Saddle River, NJ affords her all the inspiration she needs to create her bronze pieces. Throughout the years, her works have been displayed in discerning museums, public venues and private collections, including her larger than life size bust of Pope Francis which greeted the Holy Father in the foyer of the Papal residence in NYC — to which Pope Francis performed a special benediction over her sculpture during his visit to the U.S. in 2015.

Carolyn Palmer at her home studio in Saddle River.

Just a few years back, in 2015, Palmer won a national competition in Celoron, NY (Lucy’s hometown) out of over 60 sculptors to create a life size bronze figure of Lucille Ball. When the sculpture itself made its debut in 2016 on Ball’s birthday, Palmer received international recognition of its creation. Her other works include two bronze busts of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt for the newly-renovated Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum in Hyde Park. In addition, she created a second rendition of the Roosevelt pieces which are now in the collection of the New York Historical Society in NYC. More still, her third edition of Franklin and Elanor can be seen on set of the acclaimed series, “Madam Secretary.” Palmer has also be commissioned by the National Italian American Foundation for a sculpture of Governor Mario M. Cuomo, as the award statue for the recipients of recognition for their public service – which was given out in 2017.

Cardinal Joseph Tobin visits Carolyn Palmer in her Saddle River studio to bless the four Popes before their journey from Saddle River, New Jersey to St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. Here he looks into the eyes of the bronze sculpture of Pope John Paul II.